Process of and apparatus for producing illuminating and heating gas



(No Model.)

11.0. SHIELDS. PROOESSOF'AND APPARATUS FORPRODUGING ILLUMINATING ANDHEATING GAS.

Nb.259,7-23. Patented June 20, 1882.

Witnesses V Inventor.-

N. PETERS. Photo-Lilhagraphcr. Washington. D. c

UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY O. SHIELDS,OF TROY, NEW YORK.

PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING lLLUMlNATlNG AND HEATING GAS.

SPECIFICATION, forming art ofjLetters Patent 'No. 259,723, dated June20, 1882.

Application filed November-'12, 1881.

To all whom it may concern v Be it known that I,HENRY O. SHIELDS, of

the city of Troy, county of Rensselaer, and

' State of New York, haveinvented certain new my device.

and useful Improvements in the Process of and Apparatus for ProducingIlluminating and Heating Gas, of which the followingis a specification,reference being bad to the accompanying drawing and letters of referencemarked thereon.

My invention relates to the mode of applying heat to a mixture of watergas andhydr0- carbon vapors for the purpose of fixing and combining thesame, also to the'mannerof connecting the generator and the superheater;

The drawing represents a vertical section of the apparatus, showing thevarious parts of Heretofore in the manufacture of what known aswater-gas two chambers containing fuel were employed, the fuel in one ofthese being heated by the combustion of the gases produced in the other.This is objectionable for the reason that the body of fuel where the gasis produced becomes too highlyheated before the body of fuel in theother is --sufliciently heated for the decomposition ofsteam, therebydecomposing the hydrocarbons tosuch an extent as to produce lamp-black.Also,'two chambers containing fuel have been employed,

the incandescent condition of the fuel being chamber, to secure theincandescent condition of the carbonaceous materials in a short periodof time. The fuel in the generator, being greater than that in thesuperheater, requires the largest amountof heat, while the fuel in thesuperheater, being less, requires less amountof heat, and isconsequently more quickly heat ed and by the employment of theindependent fires and blasts I am enabled to heat the bodies (No model.)

of carbonaceous material independent of each other, at a great saving offuel and time, without producing lamp-black or effecting theilluminating property of the illuminating-gas.

The object of the second partot' my invention,-which pertains more tothemanner ofconnectin g the generator and the superheater than "to theapparatus as a whole, is to maintain a uniform temperature throughout Ithe mass of fuel, and thereby prevent the formation of clinker.

A is the gas-generator, which consists of a casing, B, madeot'Jboiler-iron or other suitable material, and lined with some suitablerefractory material, C. v

D is a space filled with non-conducting materialto prevent radiation.

E is the 'superheater, and-in construction is similar to the generator.

F'is an escape-'ralve for passage of the pro "ducts of combustion. r

G is alever for manipulating thevalveF; HH,the openings for introducingthe fuel to :generator and superheater; I I, the-covers for same; J, thecutter-bars for securing the cov 'ers; K, the bearing and grate bars; L,the doors; M, the ash-pans; N, the a r-valve in blast-pipe; O, 0 O and 0the air and gas valves 5' P, the blast-pipe to superheater; Q, theblast-pipe to and gas-pipe from generator; 1%, the lower gas-outlet fromthe generator; S,"the upper gas-outlet of generator; T, the gas-inlet tothe superheater; W, the oil-pipe; X, the oil-valve; Y' the gas-outlet ofsuperheater; Z, the hydraulic seal; U and V, the valves for supplyingsteam to the top and bottom of the generator, respectively.

When it is desired to put this apparatus in operation I first build afire on grate-bars K inthegenerator and superheater, the escapewalveF'and-d'oor L being left opento allow a supply of air to the fuel and topermit the products of combustion to escape, as indicated by thedotted-line arrows marked 2. As soon as the fires are properly kindledin the generator and superheater fuel is introduced through the openingsH until filled to the required height for the decomposition of steam inthe generator A and for fixing and superheating the gases in thesuperheater E.

the meantime, the doors L having been closed, a blast of air isintroduced through the valve N and pipes l. and Q to the ash-pans of thegeneratorA and superheater E. The air then passes up through the coal,and the products of combustion escape through the valves F, and theblast is continued until the coal or other carbonaceous material attainsthe proper temperature. The air-valve N, escape'valvcs F, and valves 0and O are then closed and valve 0 in pipe S opened. Steam perfectlysuperheated is then admitted to the ash-pan of the generator throughsteam-valve V and pipe Q, and passes under and up through the grate-barsand fuel, becoming decomposed, and the escaping prod uctswater-gas-passout of the generator through pipe S and enter the superheater E throughpipe T, as indicated by arrows marked 1, at a very high temperature.Just after admitting steam to-the ash-pan of the generator,hydrocarbon-oil or other suitable material containing carbon-forexample, petroleum orrosin-is admitted to the inlet pipe T of thesnperheater through oil-valve X and oil-pipe N, as indicated by arrowsmarked 4, where it; comes in contact with and is instantly vaporized bythe hot gases from the generator, when the mixed gases, now consistingof hydrocarbon vapors and the gases produced in the generator, arepassed down through the incandescent fuelcontained in the superheater,where any carbonicacid which may have escaped through the generator isconverted into carbonic oxide and a thorough combination of all thegases effected. In the passage of the gas from the top of thesnperheater to the ash-pan and outletpipe Y at the bottom of thesuperheater every particle of it is brought in direct contact with theincandescent fuel, which insures itagainst condensation and loss ofilluminating-power during storage and distribution, and is also acheaper and much more effective way of applying heat than the methodsheretofore employed, such as passing the gas through retorts orbrickwork heated by radiation or otherwise. After considerable steam haspassed through the generator A and gas through the superhcatcr .E, muchheat has been absorbed, and it becomes necessary to restore it to bothchambers.

The proper time for doing so is determined by the appearance of thefuel, which can be seen through the bulls-cycs provided for thatpurpose. The steam-valve V, oil-valve X, and on tlet-valvc 0 of thegenerator are then closed, and the escape-valve F, air-valve N, alsovalves 0 and are opened, and the blast passes into the generator andsuperheater at the bottom, and the products of combustion then escapethrough valves F until the fuel in the generator and the superheater hasagain reached the desired temperature. The air-valve N and valves 0' and0 are then closed, also es cape-valves I and steam and hydrocarbon oilare admitted, as before described. When it is found that the fuel in thegenerator is at a higher temperature at its top than it isat the bottomthe steam is admitted through steamvalve U into pipe S at the top of thegener' ator, and is forced down through the fuel, the gas escapingthrough pipe Q,, alves O and O, and up through pipe R to inlet-pipe 'Iof the superheater, as indicated by the arrows marked 3, when thehydrocarbon oil is introduced, and the balance of the manipulation thesame as before described. 7

In reversing the charges of steam from the top to the bottom of thegenerator the formation of clinker is prevented to a great extent,

.as the temperature is kept equal throughout the entire mass of fuel.The same rule can be applied to advantage to the superheatcr; but forconvenience I have only shown one inlet and one outlet.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

l. The process of manufacturing a heating or illuminating gas whichconsists in heating independently the carbonaceous materialssimnltaneously in a generator and a snperheater by separate blasts, and.the direct-internal combustion of the coal in each generator andsuperheater, then decomposing steam bypassing it through one of the bedsof the carbonaceous material, then carrying the escapingproduct-water-gas-forward and mingling it with hydrocarbon vapors, thenpassing the mixed gases through the other bed of carbonaceous materialfor fixing the gases,and finally conducting the same to the hydraulicmain or seal, as hcreinbefore set forth.

2. In combination with a gas-generator, the by-pass pipe 1%, pipes S andQ, and connecting steam-pipes U and V, with their connecting-valvcs, forthe purpose of reversing the direction of steam into the generator andthe escape of gas therefrom, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereto set my hand this 1st day of November,1881.

HENRY O. SHIELDS. Witnesses: WM. H. HOLLISTER, J r.,

N. DAVENPORT.

